Shein, pronounced as SHEE-In, is a Chinese fast-fashion retailer that has taken the world by storm with its rapid growth and massive market presence. Founded in October 2008 by Chris Xu, an American-born Chinese graduate of Washington University, Shein initially started in Nanjing, China, under the name ZZKKO. The company rebranded to SheInside in 2012 and later adopted Shein in 2015. As of 2022, Shein has become the world’s largest fashion retailer, surpassing traditional giants like H&M and Zara.

Headquartered in Singapore, Shein operates primarily as an online-only retailer. This strategic choice allows Shein to maintain a limited physical presence while reaching a vast customer base across 220 countries. The Shein business model revolves around producing trendy and affordable fashion items directly to consumers, eliminating intermediaries to offer competitive prices. This direct-to-consumer approach is complemented by an innovative on-demand production model, which minimizes waste by producing only what customers want based on real-time data. Here’s a comprehensive list of all the essential statistics you need to know about Shein.